Red tide sighted

     A red tide was sighted over the past week, an inter-departmental red tide working group reported today (April 30).
 
     The red tide was spotted by staff of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) at the Cheung Sha Wan Fish Culture Zone on April 26. The red tide persists and no associated fish deaths have been reported as at today.
 
     A spokesman for the working group said, "The red tide was formed by Takayama tuberculata, which is not common in Hong Kong waters and non-toxic."
 
     The AFCD urged mariculturists at the Cheung Sha Wan Fish Culture Zone to monitor the situation closely and increase aeration where necessary.
 
     Red tide is a natural phenomenon. The AFCD's proactive phytoplankton monitoring programme will continue monitoring red tide occurrences to minimise the impact on the mariculture industry and the public.